Our Hiking Adventure

The Group before heading out.

April 12th, I did something that I wasn't sure I'd ever be willing to do: I went backpacking with my husband.  Backpacking is one of his passions, one that I kindly listened to him talk about, one that I bought him items for, but not one that I planned on participating in (and had been successful in avoiding for the last 11 years.)  My degree of "outdoorsy" can be summed up in a quote I found on pinterest: "I am outdoorsy in that I like drinking on patios".  But as part of his Christmas in 2012, I gave him 6 prepaid dates for 2013, and I decided I'd take the plunge and go with him.  It was our March/April date, and the ONLY weekend that worked for our schedules was a weekend he had already planned for hiking with his dad and Will.  Luckily, they were game to bring their wives too, and make it a group outing. 

 The thing is, I actually really liked it!  It was definitely hard work, and no doubt there were parts of it I didn't enjoy (the hike out was BRUTAL, and this girl doesn't like to go 3 days without a shower), but I got to see some really great things.  For one, I got to check out the tallest waterfall between the Appalachians and the Rockies.

 For two, I got to see this really other neat places like the foundation of an old schoolhouse and this old cabin.

 For three, I got to hang out with some really fun people, all of whom were super accommodating and patient with their self-professed diva.

 Oh yeah, and there was also the VIEWS. 

 The area was just amazing.  Pictures don't come close to doing it justice.

 Also, quite amazingly, Sean and I got along great throughout the entire trip.  We have a tendency to bicker when I whine or when he loses his patience when trying to teach me something new.  We were both able to keep our individual irritations in check and had a wonderful time together.  Sleeping zipped up in a sleeping bag together and cuddling by the fire definitely helped the moods!

 All in all, it was a great trip and I'd love to go back again.  I am still a "diva" when it comes to the outdoors, there is no doubt about that, but I think I can handle roughing it once or twice a year to spend some time with my husband doing something he loves--and something I ended up loving, too.